MHL in a positive position heading into draft

Weeks Hockey Organization president Wade Taylor tees off at the Abercrombie Golf Club on Friday along with other attendees for this year’s MHL draft.

Ahead of the MHL draft which will take place at the Pictou County Wellness Centre Saturday, the league’s board of governors held a meeting to discuss some issues surrounding the league on Friday.

“It was a very positive meeting,” said Wade Taylor, Weeks Jr. A Crushers president.

At the meeting they discussed everything from league structure to changes that are happening and also reelected John Lynn as chair.

“The league is in great shape. The brand is strong. The attendance is at all time levels,” Lynn said.

He said they talked about many things that can improve the quality of competition in the league, the administration of the league and the brand of the league and established committees to report back on ways to accomplish that for their August meeting.

One of the major items approved was the move of the Metro Marauders to the Valley where the team will now be known as the Valley Wildcats.

That team will operate with a similar style of program as the Weeks Hockey Organization with feeder programs from the bantam and midget level.

“I think it’ll be very good,” Lynn said. “I think that market is more of a Jr. A market.”

They also received word that the Summerside Western Capitals had all but reached a deal to stay in Summerside, which Lynn was personally happy to see.

“We need a strong P.E.I. franchise that has a great venue,” he said.

The board also had a chance to discuss the number of teams that seemed appropriate for the league and it was the general consensus of those present that if a strong franchise was to come forward they would consider opening the league to 12 teams.

Saturday, the MHL draft will be held at 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.

“We always like hosting events and bringing as much as we can into Pictou County,” Taylor said. “We have a committed group of volunteers that are helping us put on a first class event.”

Weeks Hockey Organization president Wade Taylor tees off at the Abercrombie Golf Club on Friday along with other attendees for this year’s MHL draft.